Anatomy: Anatomical Directions, Regions, Cavities, and Planes

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical directions, body region terminology (head, torso, limbs), body cavities, and anatomical planes.

Anterior

Forward

Posterior

Back

Superior

Above

Inferior

Below

Medial

Towards the middle

Lateral

Away from middle

Distal

Away from

Proxamile

Towards/closer

Superficial

Near the surface

Deep

More inside

Cephalic

Entire head

Cranial

Skull surrounding the brain

Facial

Face area

Frontal

Forehead

Ocular/optic

Eye region

Nasal

Nose area

Otic/auricular

Ear region

Buccal

Cheek area

Oral

Mouth

Mental

Chin region

Lingual

Tongue

Cervical

Neck region

Thoracic

Chest region

Sternal

Breastbone area

Mammary/pectoral

Chest/breast muscles

Abdominal

Belly region

Umbilical

Navel (belly button)

Dorsal

Back surface

Spinal

Backbone area

Lumbar

Lower back area between ribs and hips

Pelvic

Area overlying the pelvis anteriorly

Pubic/genital

Groin/reproductive organ region

Coxal

Hip region

Acromial/deltoid

Point of shoulder / shoulder muscle

Scapular

Shoulder blade area

Axillary

Armpit

Brachial

Upper arm (between shoulder and elbow)

Antecubital

Front of the elbow

Olecranal

Back of the elbow

Antebrachial

Forearm

Carpal

Wrist

Manual

Hand

Palmar

Palm of the hand

Digital

Fingers

Pollex/thenar

Thumb / base of thumb muscle

Gluteal

Buttock region

Inguinal

Groin area where the thigh meets the trunk

Femoral

Thigh

Patellar

Anterior knee (kneecap)

Popliteal

Posterior knee (hollow area behind the knee)

Crural

Shin area (anterior lower leg)

Sural

Calf area (posterior lower leg)

Tarsal

Ankle

Pedal

Foot

Calcaneal

Heel of the foot

Plantar

Sole of the foot

Hallux

Big toe

Dorsal Cavity

Located along the back of the body.

Cranial cavity

Enclosed by the skull; contains the brain.

Spinal cavity

Runs inside the vertebral column; contains the spinal cord.

Ventral Cavity

Located along the front of the body.

Thoracic cavity

The chest area, further divided into pleural, mediastinal, and pericardial cavities.

Right Pleural cavity

Surrounds the right lung.

Left Pleural cavity

Surrounds the left lung.

Mediastinal cavity

The central area between the lungs containing the esophagus, trachea, and thymus gland.

Pericardial cavity

Located inside the mediastinum; surrounds the heart.

Abdominopelvic cavity

The lower belly area, further divided into abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal cavity

Contains the stomach, liver, intestines, and spleen.

Pelvic cavity

Contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.

Sagittal plane

A vertical line dividing the body into right and left sides.

Mid-sagittal plane

Passes exactly through the midline, dividing into equal right and left halves.

Para-sagittal plane

Divides into unequal right and left sides.

Frontal (Coronal) plane

A vertical line dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse (Horizontal) plane

A horizontal line dividing the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions.